Growth, strain and spin orbit torques in epitaxial NiMnSb films sputtered on GaAs

Abstract

We report current-induced spin torques in epitaxial NiMnSb films on a commercially available epi-ready GaAs substrate. The NiMnSb was grown by co-sputtering from three targets using optimised parameter. The films were processed into micro-scale bars to perform current-induced spin-torque measurements. Magnetic dynamics were excited by microwave currents and electric voltages along the bars were measured to analyse the symmetry of the current-induced torques. We found that the extracted symmetry of the spin torques matches those expected from spin-orbit interaction in a tetragonally distorted half-Heusler crystal. Both field-like and damping-like torques are observed in all the samples characterised, and the efficiency of the current-induced torques is comparable to that of ferromagnetic metal/heavy metal bilayers.

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